Last week, the Guardian broke the news that in the run-up to the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, the CIA used a vaccination campaign as a ruse to get DNA evidence from the al-Qaeda leader's kids. With help from a Pakistani doctor, Shakil Afridi, they set up clinics in two neighborhoods, delivering doses of the Hepatitis B vaccine to local children. The revelation drew a quick and angry response from health experts. Medecins Sans Frontieres called the operation "a dangerous abuse of medical care." In the Washington Post, Orin Levine and Laurie Garrett warned that the CIA's "reckless tactics could have catastrophic consequences."
Indeed, they may. Here are three reasons why this is bad news for public health:
1. Broken Trust
When people don't trust medical personnel, they're less likely to participate in legitimate public health campaigns. Eight years ago, rumors spread that an anti-polio campaign in Nigeria was an American plot to sterilize Muslim girls, causing many families to refuse the vaccine. The subsequent outbreak spread to eight countries. In Pakistan, the CIA's operation may hurt a efforts to eradicate polio, argue Levine and Garrett:
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Personally, I really do not understand why our "secret" agencies have to release any information to the public in the first place. Let them do what they do, and stop feeling like we have the right to know every detail of every mission. It's bad enough there are spies trying to identify our agents, we really don't need the media and the administration helping them.
ReplyDeleteJust another reason why I don't run out a get a flue shot when the knuckleheads in Washington say I should.
ReplyDeleteflue shot
ReplyDeleteknuckleheads in Washington
too easy
Why administer a STD vaccine?
ReplyDeleteAre they afraid the kids will have unprotected sex - in a Muslim Country?
It also shows how stupid the Muslim parents are - their kids don't have a need for an STD vaccine.